AS301, IITM, Lecture 4 (08/08/2007)

SINGLE STAGE SOUNDING ROCKET

In a vertical flight the equation of motion becomes:
Vehicle accleation, a =

dV
T
D
=

ge
M M
dt

Let tb be the time end of propulsion period. If drag is neglected and U e is

assumed to be a constant then the instantaneous velocity increment at time t is
given as

V = I sp g e ln

M0
(M 0 M B ) t
g e t where M = M 0
tb
M

The altitude attained by the vehicle at burnout will be

tb

hb = V dt
0

Let =

M0
, then
MB

1 t
M

= 1
M0
tb

1 t
g e t
V = V = I sp g e ln 1
tb
V=Ispgelog(1-(-1)/()t/tb)-get
2500
I =100s
sp
=10
2000

t =5s
b

t =20s
b

V (m/s)

1500
t =50s
b

1000

t =100s

500

0
0

20

40

60
t (seconds)

80

100

1 t
g e t dt
hb = I sp g e ln 1

tb
0

tb

tb

hb = { I sp g e ln[ At + 1] g e t}dt

where A =

This is integral of the form

1
t b

ln (ax + b) dx =

2
At + 1
gt
hb = I sp g e
ln( At + 1) t e
2
A

ax + b
ln(ax + b) x
a

tb

g t2
ln( )
hb = I sp g e
1t b e b
2
1
After the burnout of the rocket continues to climb (to height hmax ) at the expense
of kinetic energy acquired during the propulsion phase.
mb g e (hmax hb ) = mb

Vb2
2

or hmax = hb +

Vb2
2 ge

Where Vb = I sp g e ln g e t b
hmax =

(I

g e ln )

sp

2 ge

(U ln )

U e
I sp g e
ln 1t b
ln 1t b = e
2 ge

1
1
2

Notes:
(1) Reduce the burning time as much as possible while accelerating against
and gravity field. i.e., faster burning propellants
(2) However this would imply a very high accelerations and stresses by
large propellant and vehicle. Flow rates needing larger machinery to
handle this. Typical burning time is of the order of 30-200 seconds.
(3) In the absence of gravity, the burning time has no bearing on the
maximum height. In case of later stages this might be possible

Case III (Effect of Drag) :

1
V 2 Af
2
Af = frontal cross sectional area of vehicle

D = CD

CD = drag coefficient (depends on vehicle shape, speed and inclination)

0 .3

Flight
path

=8

0 .2

Drag
0
0 .1

: Inclination of
vehicle with flight path

Mach No.

Then, vehicle accleation, a =

2
dV
T CD V Af
=

ge
M
dt
2M

The density variation and thus the drag is significant during this launch period.

h km

h
SL

(h) (g/cm3)

0
12
19
160
290
420

1
2.55 101
8.62 102
8.97 1010
3.5 1011
4.1 1012

1.225 103
3.119 104
1.0564 104
1.1 1012
2.2 1014
5.0 1015